A 58-year-old Eudora woman was sentenced to five years’ probation last week in federal court for making a false statement that allowed her to receive about $61,000 in Social Security disability benefits for which she was not eligible.

Sheery Regalado was also ordered to pay back the $61,000 worth of benefits she received.

As part of the plea deal earlier this year, Regalado admitted to telling the Social Security Administration in 2007 that her husband did not live with her even though he did, which resulted in her receiving benefits she was not eligible to receive from August 2000 to July 2011. According to the plea, she also told investigators Regalado had access to a joint bank account with her husband.

Prosecutors said Social Security investigators need to know the number of residents living in a household and the income available to determine the monthly amount a recipient is eligible to receive.